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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Thomas Caltagirone |
  
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Berks County Seniors: Property tax relief has arrived
By state Rep. Tom Caltagirone
I'm happy to say it: Property tax relief has finally arrived! But many people who qualify aren't aware of several ways in which they will be able to benefit.
First, proceeds from gaming have produced enough revenue in the state's Property Tax Relief Fund to deliver nearly $613 million for school property tax relief to more than 3 million Pennsylvania homeowners this summer.
The upcoming reduction in property taxes represents the start of what promises to be further reductions in the future. These funds are from proceeds generated by casinos and race tracks operating and those soon to be up and running across the state.
Homeowners here in Berks County will be receiving nearly $19.6 million in property tax relief this summer from gaming revenues. Property tax cuts for homeowners in my local school districts are estimated as follows:
Antietam - $236; Boyertown Area - $159; Brandywine Heights Area - $227; Conrad Weiser Area - $208; Daniel Boone Area - $238; Exeter Township - $196; Fleetwood Area - $268; Governor Mifflin - $111; Hamburg Area - $179; Kutztown Area - $183; Muhlenberg - $193; Oley Valley - $167; Reading - $408; Schuylkill Valley - $158; Tulpehocken Area - $210; Twin Valley - $181; Wilson - $147; and Wyomissing Area - $165.
Second, the state's Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program continues to provide rebates on the previous year's property taxes or rent to income-eligible senior citizens who are 65 or older, widows and widowers 50 or older, and residents 18 or older with a permanent disability.
For homeowners seeking a property tax rebate through this program, the household income limit is $35,000; for renters, the income limit is $15,000. Applicants only have to count half of any Social Security or federal railroad retirement Tier I benefits toward their income when applying.
The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. However, this year many senior citizens may receive an even larger rebate. Now that the state's relief fund has begun to distribute tax relief, senior homeowners whose income is less than $30,000 will receive an additional 50 percent rebate if the property taxes they paid in 2007 were at least 15 percent of their income. That means these seniors could qualify for a rebate of up to $975. And the deadline to apply for rebates under the 2007 tax year has been extended to Dec. 31, 2008.
While the deadline has been extended, there's no reason to wait until the last minute. Senior citizens and other eligible residents can get more information, applications for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program and assistance with applying by contacting my office in Reading at 610-376-1529.
The process can be confusing, but my staff is here to help make sure you qualify for every bit of tax relief available to you.
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